WILLIAMS, Roy Lee 1933-2005

WILLIAMS, DOSS, KING

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/27/2009 at 21:07:27

#1:

Roy L. Williams

ROCKFORD — Roy L. Williams, 72, of Rockford, died Saturday (June 11, 2005) at the Manly Nursing and Rehab Center in Manly.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, 7601 34th Ave. S. in Minneapolis, Minn., with military rites accorded by the Fort Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad.

Those wishing to extend memorials or expressions of sympathy may direct them to the Roy L. Williams Memorial Fund.

Thoughts, condolences and stories may be sent to the family at www.fullertonfh.com.

Arrangements are being completed by Fullerton-Schumburg Funeral Home, 302 West Main Street in Rockford, Iowa.

Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Services (641) 756-3311. www.fullertonfh.com.

Globe Gazette, June 14, 2005
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#2:

Roy L. Williams

ROCKFORD, IOWA — Roy L. Williams, 72, 301 7th St. N.E Apt. 11 of Rockford, died Saturday (June 11, 2005) at the Manly Nursing and Rehab Center in Manly.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, 7601 34th Ave. S., Assembly area No. 5, Minneapolis, Minn. Pastor Patricia Shaw will officiate and military rites will be accorded by the Fort Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad.

Those wishing to extend memorials or expressions of sympathy may direct them to the Roy L. Williams Memorial Fund.

Roy Lee Williams was born Feb. 27, 1933, in Central City, Ky., to Rufus and Emma (Doss) Williams. The family later moved to Michigan where Roy attended and finished school. Roy stood 6 feet tall and he played center for his high school basketball team and fullback on the football team.

He joined the Army in April of 1953 and served as a drill instructor at Fort Carson, Colo., during the Korean War until he was honorably discharged in 1955 with the rank of corporal. The story Roy told was, while loading onto the airplane to head to Korea, he was pulled off with two other soldiers to stay in camp and instruct, serving with E Co., 61 Infantry Regiment.

In 1954, he married Janet King and to this union two children were born. After moving to Iowa, he held many jobs until he was employed with the Model Printing Co. in Manchester, Iowa, working as a custom printer.

He played many years of fast pitch softball and was a very good pitcher. Breaking wooden bats with his curve ball was his specialty. Roy also coached Little League baseball and later other softball teams.

He enjoyed collecting antiques and firearms and had at different times some of the finest collections of Winchester rifles, Smith and Wesson revolvers, Civil War artifacts, Indian arrowheads, World War II German pistols and other memorabilia. He also collected police badges and photos. He loved looking for that special collectable that would always make his display better, and made many friends in the process.

In 1976 he was married to Cindy Edaburn. He spent many happy years collecting antiques with her and doing his best to help raise her children.

After a short time in Florida, Roy moved to Rochester, Minn., where he worked as a security guard for the federal prison until, at the age of 62, the diagnosis of diabetes caused him to retire.

He spent the rest of his life enjoying flea markets, auctions, buying and selling collectibles and spending time with his grandchildren and his special friend, Shirley Young of Rochester.

Roy is survived by his son, Bradley (Doris) Williams of Rockford; his daughter, Kathleen (Earl) Swarts of Bettendorf; five grandchildren, Jessica (Tony) Grandinetti; Barry, Martin, Lynette and Jordan Williams; one great-granddaughter, Alexandria Grandinetti; one brother, Bob Williams of Mesa, Ariz.; and one sister, Helen Vargo of Apache Junction, Ariz.

Roy always was very grateful of anything done for him and always appreciated a "please" and "thank-you." He goes to a better place, but will be missed by his friends and family.

Thoughts, condolences and stories may be sent to the family at www.fullertonfh.com .

Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Services (641) 756-3311

[Globe Gazette]